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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>72657</law_id><section_number>16.1-269.6</section_number><catch_line>Circuit court hearing; jury; termination of juvenile court jurisdiction; objections and appeals</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-228</reference><reference>16.1-241</reference><reference>16.1-249</reference><reference>16.1-272.1</reference><reference>16.1-275</reference><reference>16.1-280</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="16.1">Courts Not of Record</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="11">Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="7">Transfer and Waiver</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Within seven days after receipt of notice of an <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> from the transfer decision pursuant to subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Trial in circuit court; preliminary hearing; direct indictment; remand" href="/16.1-269.1/">16.1-269.1</a>, by either the attorney for the Commonwealth or the juvenile, or if an <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> to such a decision to transfer is not noted, upon expiration of the time in which to note such an <span class="dictionary">appeal</span>, the clerk of <span class="dictionary">the court</span> shall forward to the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> court all papers connected with the case, including any report required by subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Admissibility of statement; investigation and report; bail" href="/16.1-269.2/">16.1-269.2</a>, as well as a written <span class="dictionary">court order</span> setting forth the reasons for the <span class="dictionary">juvenile court</span>&#x2019;s decision. Within seven days after receipt of notice of an <span class="dictionary">appeal</span>, the clerk shall forward copies of the order to the attorney for the Commonwealth and other <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> of record. <a id="paragraph-261530" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-269.6/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> court, when practicable, shall, within 45 days after receipt of the case from the <span class="dictionary">juvenile court</span> pursuant to subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Trial in circuit court; preliminary hearing; direct indictment; remand" href="/16.1-269.1/">16.1-269.1</a>, (i) if either the juvenile or the attorney for the Commonwealth has appealed the transfer decision, examine all such papers, reports and <span class="dictionary">orders</span> and conduct a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> to take further <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> on the <span class="dictionary">issue</span> of transfer, to determine if there has been substantial compliance with subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Trial in circuit court; preliminary hearing; direct indictment; remand" href="/16.1-269.1/">16.1-269.1</a>, but without redetermining whether the <span class="dictionary">juvenile court</span> had sufficient <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> to find <span class="dictionary">probable cause</span>; and (ii) enter an order either remanding the case to the <span class="dictionary">juvenile court</span> or advising the attorney for the Commonwealth that he may seek an <span class="dictionary">indictment</span>. A juvenile held continuously in secure detention shall be released from confinement if there is no <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> on the merits of his case within 45 days of the filing of the <span class="dictionary">appeal</span>. The <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> court may extend the time limitations for a reasonable period of time based upon good cause shown, provided the basis for such extension is recorded in writing and filed among the papers of the proceedings. However, in cases where a charge has been certified by the <span class="dictionary">juvenile court</span> to the <span class="dictionary">grand jury</span> pursuant to subsection B or C of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Trial in circuit court; preliminary hearing; direct indictment; remand" href="/16.1-269.1/">16.1-269.1</a>, the attorney for the Commonwealth may seek an <span class="dictionary">indictment</span> upon such charge and any <span class="dictionary">ancillary charge</span> without obtaining an order of the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> court advising him that he may do so. <a id="paragraph-261531" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-269.6/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court order</span> advising the attorney for the Commonwealth that he may seek an <span class="dictionary">indictment</span> shall divest the <span class="dictionary">juvenile court</span> of its <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> over the case as well as the <span class="dictionary">juvenile court</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> over any other <span class="dictionary">allegations</span> of delinquency arising from the same act, transaction or scheme giving rise to the charge for which the juvenile has been transferred. In addition, upon <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> of the juvenile following transfer or certification and <span class="dictionary">trial</span> as an <span class="dictionary">adult</span>, the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> court shall <span class="dictionary">issue</span> an order terminating the <span class="dictionary">juvenile court</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> over that juvenile with respect to any future criminal acts alleged to have been committed by such juvenile and with respect to any pending <span class="dictionary">allegations</span> of delinquency which have not been disposed of by the <span class="dictionary">juvenile court</span> at the time of the criminal <span class="dictionary">conviction</span>. However, such an order terminating the <span class="dictionary">juvenile court</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> shall not apply to any <span class="dictionary">allegations</span> of criminal conduct that would properly be within the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of the juvenile and domestic relations district court if the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> were an <span class="dictionary">adult</span>. Upon receipt of the order terminating the <span class="dictionary">juvenile court</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> over the juvenile, the clerk of the <span class="dictionary">juvenile court</span> shall forward any pending <span class="dictionary">petitions</span> of delinquency for proceedings in the appropriate general district court. <a id="paragraph-261532" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-269.6/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> <span class="dictionary">The judge</span> of the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> court who reviewed the case after receipt from the <span class="dictionary">juvenile court</span> shall not, over the objection of any interested <span class="dictionary">party</span>, preside over the <span class="dictionary">trial</span> of such charge or charges. <a id="paragraph-261533" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-269.6/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Any objection to the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> of the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> court pursuant to this article shall be waived if not made before <span class="dictionary">arraignment</span>. <a id="paragraph-261534" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-269.6/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> The time period beginning with the filing of a <span class="dictionary">notice of appeal</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Retention by juvenile court; appeal" href="/16.1-269.3/">16.1-269.3</a> or &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Transfer to circuit court; appeal by juvenile" href="/16.1-269.4/">16.1-269.4</a> and ending with the order of the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> court disposing of the appeal shall not be included as applying to the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Limitation on prosecution of felony due to lapse of time after finding of probable cause; misdemeanors; exceptions" href="/19.2-243/">19.2-243</a>. <a id="paragraph-261535" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/16.1-269.6/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1994, cc. 859, 949; 1996, cc. 755, 914; 1997, c. 862; 2003, c. 144; 2004, c. 468; 2010, c. 739.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
